SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) – A 13-year-old peninsula boy said he was simply touched by a recent string of suicides by gay teens nationwide – touched so much, in fact, that he orchestrated an indie rock concert at San Francisco’s Great American Music Hall Sunday night to raise money for anti-gay bashing programs.

KCBS’ Tim Ryan Reports:

Palo Alto Teen Fights Gay Stigma With San Francisco Concert

“They are just a part of our society and it’s not like there’s anything different anyway, so as soon as people realize that, it will definitely stop,” Noah Hornik explained his stance on gays in the community before the concert began. He convinced bands from as far away as Los Angeles and Florida to participate in the show.

“When I was 13 I was worried about my grades and getting through middle school,” reflected musician Max Hellman with the band Handshakes. “And to have something like this, it’s really cool to be a part of and you know his love for music and kind of putting everything together under that umbrella I think is just a really, really good cause.”

Hornik’s “It Gets Indie” show raised an estimated several thousand dollars for the anti-bullying message.

Equally important, the teen’s father hoped it sent a clear message.

“This idea that being gay is somehow unique or different or a problem in any way is a thing of the past,” David Hornik said emphatically.